Training Bureau women all had base fates, but even base fates had rankings.

First rank was courtesan queen.

Once selected as courtesan queen, for three years one received the Training Bureau’s best food, clothing, and supplies, even having three to five small maids in attendance.

Most importantly, the courtesan queen had the right to select guests. When unwilling to receive guests, even the Training Bureau’s madam could only coax and cajole from the side.

If lucky enough to encounter a great noble who would arrange her redemption, she’d completely escape the pit of fire.

Zhao Yishi silently watched Wang Xian on the ground. “Lord Wang came through the Zhang family to seek me. Ordinarily I shouldn’t refuse, but…”

“Your Highness!”

Wang Xian raised his head, crawled several steps on his knees to Zhao Yishi’s feet, and prostrated again. “This subject is willing to follow Your Highness’s lead in all things.”

Zhao Yishi laughed coldly, pointing across the lake. “Do you know who sits in that lit water pavilion?”

Wang Xian straightened to look, then shook his head.

“Prince Han.”

“…”

Cold light flashed in Zhao Yishi’s eyes. “Lord Wang, one pledge of loyalty isn’t enough for me to offend him for your sake.”

The stakes weren’t high enough!

…

In the water pavilion.

Prince Han Zhao Yanjin wore black python-patterned arrow sleeves, appearing especially spirited.

Today he’d specifically returned to the capital from his estate for the Training Bureau’s triennial courtesan queen competition.

Women—he had plenty.

But the courtesan queen, besides offering the freshest and tastiest experience, had another advantage unknown to others—

Namely, using these women’s eyes and ears to gather intelligence on court civil and military officials’ movements for him.

After Hua Kingdom princes came of age and received their titles, they lived in their respective fiefs. Capital movements were transmitted to fiefs through eyes and ears planted in the capital.

These eyes and ears existed in court, military, and among common people—naturally they should also exist in pleasure quarters.

Women’s graceful bodies could pry open how many men’s mouths?

These past ten years, he’d had people select women from various places, send them to the Training Bureau for training, then promote them to serve as his eyes in the capital.

“This time, which young lady should this Prince support?”

“Replying to Prince.”

The speaker was Training Bureau Director Sun Fu. “The young lady is called Lanxin. She’s beautiful, intelligent—among all the women sent, she’s most outstanding. Prince should examine her carefully later.”

“Examine her in bed!”

Zhao Yanjin waved his hand. “If she looks good but is useless, I’ll settle accounts with you.”

Hearing this, his trusted officials all laughed heartily.

Seeing Zhao Yanjin’s good mood, Sun Fu added, “Prince, another noble person came to the water pavilion today.”

“Who?”

“The Grand Prince.”

“Him?”

Zhao Yanjin couldn’t help pausing. “Our virtuous Grand Prince supposedly barely touches women. Why would he come here?”

Sun Fu smiled. “The Grand Prince rarely comes indeed—perhaps to observe the excitement.”

The words were quite euphemistic, but everyone present was clever.

“Excitement” was terminology for commoners. For those in high positions, even a fart required analyzing the flavor it emitted.

“Keep watch.”

“Yes!”

Sun Fu closed the door as he left.

At this moment, strategist Dong Xiao spoke. “Prince, it’s rather stuffy in the water pavilion. Shall we walk outside?”

Zhao Yanjin glanced at him and smiled. “Boren knows my heart best.”

The two walked to the outer room.

Dong Xiao said quietly, “Prince entered the capital at year’s end and has now been here half a year. You should return to your fief.”

Zhao Yanjin asked, “You fear the Yan Ruxian matter will implicate this Prince?”

Dong Boren looked at the pitch-black river surface. “Just rained—the water’s muddy, can’t see what’s hidden below. Let it settle, wait a bit. When the water clears, coming back won’t be late.”

Why Lu Shi suddenly impeached Yan Ruxian…

What was the true purpose…

Where Lu Shi got such audacity…

Whether someone manipulated things behind the scenes…

No one could fathom it.

Zhao Yanjin nodded in agreement. “Boren speaks correctly. This Prince has indeed been out too long. By the way, any findings regarding Xie Daozhi?”

Dong Xiao replied, “Xie Daozhi has recently stayed home, only attending court and office. He rarely goes out otherwise.”

Zhao Yanjin pressed, “What about his son?”

Dong Xiao answered, “Recuperating at home.”

Zhao Yanjin sneered coldly. “Seems our Minister Xie has quite real abilities!”

As he finished speaking, gongs and drums suddenly thundered.

Dong Boren looked at Zhao Yanjin meaningfully. “Prince, look—this excitement begins when it says it begins, catching people unprepared!”

Zhao Yanjin paused slightly, quickly grasping the deeper meaning.

Censors wore crimson seeking the truth.

This old eunuch Yan Ruxian’s matter surely involved very extensive scope. His Majesty’s current silence didn’t mean letting it pass.

An explanation would eventually be required—otherwise how could he silence the world’s murmuring mouths?

“In a few days I’ll submit my resignation to His Majesty. What does Boren think?”

Dong Xiao looked at Prince Han approvingly. “Thus Prince can place himself outside events and properly observe the outside excitement.”

…

As gongs and drums sounded, dozens of maids carrying red lanterns walked onstage with tiny steps.

The stage suddenly became brighter than daylight.

Scholars grew restless—some slapping tables, some howling. The entire Training Bureau boiled over.

After much anticipation, three beauties with light makeup and snow-white skin emerged from behind the curtain.

One wore red, one green, one white—each displaying ultimate charm.

The three stood in position. Drums suddenly stopped. Scholars’ shouts also ceased abruptly.

Besides their heart-stirring appearances, most enticing were their garments.

Thin layers of gauze skirts, faintly visible.

Too stimulating!

Too alluring!

The red-clothed woman’s eyes rippled like waves, lips red and teeth white, even her voice trembling like a cat’s. “This young lady is named Bingqing, seventeen years old.”

A scholar clutched his chest shouting, “Can’t take it—just hearing this voice makes me weak.”

“Brother, are your legs weak, or something else weak?”

“Hahaha!”

The crowd roared with laughter.

The green-clothed woman had an oval face flushed with color, waist slim as a willow, glossy black hair fastened with a jade hairpin—making her seductive eyes even more alluring.

“This young lady is named Lanxin, sixteen years old.”

Another scholar shouted, “That waist—I’m afraid a little pressure would snap it!”

A nearby scholar spat at him. “Your turn to pinch it?”

The scholar spat back. “Not your turn either.”

Everyone laughed again.

The final white-clothed woman appeared like a budding flower, radiating beauty ready to burst forth. What killed was her eyes also held glistening tears—whether from fear or shame.

“This young lady is named Zhuxiang, eighteen years old.”

“Beauty, don’t cry—this brother will wipe your tears shortly.”

“Beauty, it’s not time to cry yet. Cry when it hurts later.”

Li Buyan had been watching so intently her mouth nearly watered, but hearing these scholars’ lewd remarks, she grew angry, coldly raising her right middle finger.

Pei Xiao’s peripheral vision caught this. Curiously he asked, “What does this mean?”

Li Buyan replied, “My mother says it’s for cursing.”

Xie Zhifei asked, “How does one curse with it?”

Li Buyan dipped that finger in tea water and wrote a large character: Fuck!

Xie Zhifei: “…”

Pei Xiao: “…”